Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-02-04
BEFORE VICKsBURG, Miss.

Following which was written to Grant BY
his faithful friend and chief of staff, Gen
Rawlns
BEFORE VICKsBURu, Miss,
June &, 1868. O'Clock a. m
Dear General. The great solictude
feel for the safety of this army leads mt
to mention what had hoped never again
TO do-the subject of your drinking. rni-
may surprise you, for may be (and
trust ann doing you an injustice by un
founded suspicious, but II an error 1t bet
ter be on the side of his country's safety
than in fear OF offending a friend. | have
heard that DR. Mcmillan at Gen Sher-
mans few days ago, induced you, not
understanding your pledge to me, to take a
glass of wine, and to-day, when found n
box of wine in front of your tent and pro
posed to move it, which | did, was told
you had forbid It's being taken away, for
yeu intended TO keep il until you entered
Vicksburgh, that you might have it for
your friends: and to might, when you
should because of the condition of your
health, If nothing else, have been in bed,
hnd you where the wine bottle has lust
been emptled, in company with those who
drink and urge you to do likewise, and
the lack of your usual promptness of de-
clsion and clearness in expressing your
sell In writing tended to confirm my sus-
piclons.
You have the full control of your appe.
ate and can let drinking alone. Had you
not pledged me the sincerity Of your honor
early last March that you would drink no
more during the war, and kept that pledge
uur1ng your recent campaign, you would
not o-day have stood first in the world g
history rs Il successful military leader
Your only salvation depends upon your
strict adherence to that pledge. You can
not succeed in any other way. AS | have
before stated, may be wrong in my sus-
Plclons, but If one sees that which leads
him to suppose a sentinel is falling asleep
on his post, 1t is his duty to arouse him 4;
and II one sees that which leads him to
fear the general commanding great
army is being seduced to that step which
ne knows Will bring disgrace upon that
general and defeat to his command, il he
ialis 10 sound the proper note of warning,
the friends, wives and children of those
brave men whose lives he permits to re-
main thus imperiled will accuse him while
ne lives and stand swift witnesses of
wrath against him in the day when all
shall be tried. II my suspicious are I'M
rounded, let my friendship for you and
my zeal for my country be my excuse for
this letter; and if they are correctly found
ed. and you determine not to heed the ad-
monltions and the prayers of this hastynote
by Immediately ceasing to touch a single
drop of any kind of liquor, no matter BY
whom asked or under what circumstances
let my immediate relief from duty in this
department be the result. am, general,
your friend. JOHN A. RAWLINs
The copy of this letter preserved in the
papers of Gen. Rawlns was Endorsed as
follows:
This Is an exact copy of a letter given to
the person TO whom 1t is addressed at it's
date, about four miles from our head
quarters in the rear of Vicksburg. Its
aumonltlons were heeded and all went
well. JOHN A. RAWIINs
This letter to Gen. Grant is in strong
contrast with some letters about him,
which some of his subordinates were in
the habit of writing. 1t has been given to
the public through the columns of the New
York Sun, by Col. H. V. n Boynton, who
well says OF it that cit is doubtful wheth-
er the literature of the war contains a
more manly, patriotic, courageous, pa
thetic or important letter than this" 1t
shows Rawlins as true man and true
friend, and gives especial significance to
the message sent by Grant to Henry
Wilson, year later, that Rawlins was
more nearly Indispensable" to him
than any other man in the army" Col. |
Boynton further states that Gen. William
+. Smith in 1854, wrote to Rawlins and re-
ceived reply which Boynton gives, in |
which Rawlins says Being thus timely |
advised of the slippery ground he is on, | |
shall not fail to use my utmost endeayors |
TO stay him from falling" This incident |
again exhibits Rawlins as the faithful
friend. Gen. Boynton claims indeed that
Rawlins was really Grants conscience.
and adds:
The two men formed one complete,
though by no means perfect, character.
1t was bold, resolute, fearless, intensely
patriotic, clean, pure and unselfish. It's
methods were direct, straightforward and |
honest, and it will live in the minds of |
men so long as the history of the republic |
endures.
While RAWLINGS course in all this can
hardly be too highly praised, it is clearly
too much to say that he was Grants con
science, in the sense that the latter had
little or no conscience or power of self
control, of his own. That Grant had been
Incorporate before the war, is we'll known
That he had reformed and was man of
sober habits when he entered the service
As volunteer at the outbreak of the war,
is also true. That he subsequently had
lapses into his former habits,
seems to be the case. But that he knew
his danger, and fought against his tempta-
ton resolutely, and in the end successful
~, Is beyond dispute. The amount and
quality of mental and physical respon-
slbillty sustained and labor undergone by
Grant, as general-in chief of the army,
would have been simply impossible for an
lnebriate; and he never relapsed into the
drinking habits of his frontier life In the
regular army. But, like every man who
has once contracted the habit of strong
drink, he was in constant danger; and
the country will honor the man, who so
stood by him, and between him and
with such faithful and unob
trusive fidelity.
MANUFACTURING NOTES.